Harry Maguire, the defender for Manchester United and the England national team, expresses his gratitude to Gareth Southgate for his support during times of criticism from fans.

Harry Maguire has expressed his gratitude towards Gareth Southgate for the unwavering support and trust he has received from the England manager. Despite facing some challenges at Manchester United this season, with limited game time due to competition from Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane, Maguire has consistently been selected for international duty by Southgate. In fact, all 62 of Maguire’s caps have come under the guidance of the former Middlesbrough boss.

Maguire is expected to feature in the upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium as England continue their preparations for Euro 2024. Reflecting on his international career, Maguire stated, “I think I’ve been in every single squad I’ve been available for, I’ve played every competitive game that I’ve been available for. It gives me great confidence. There’s loads of people out there now who probably don’t think I should be in the squad. There’s millions of people that think I should be. That’s football and that’s why it’s such a great game because everyone has such a different opinion.”

The defender also expressed his appreciation for the faith and trust shown by Southgate throughout his time with the national team. Amidst rumors linking Southgate with the managerial position at Manchester United, Maguire emphasized that the England players want him to extend his stay with the Three Lions.

When asked about their desire for Southgate to remain beyond the summer, Maguire responded, “Yeah, definitely, obviously. We want to be successful in the Euros – we are not looking at the World Cup at the moment – but obviously if we are successful at the Euros, which is our main focus, of course, we want to be successful.”

Maguire acknowledged the significant progress made by the England team under Southgate’s leadership and highlighted the importance of winning a trophy. While uncertain about Southgate’s future, Maguire praised the strides taken by the team and credited the manager for his role in their success. He concluded by stating, “He’s definitely got the recognition and respect of the players, and people who are close to him. And people whose opinions matter to him.”